Umbrella or parasol



(No Model.)

" A. IEHL. 8

I UMBRBLLA 0B. PARASOL. No. 257,872.4 Patented May 16', 1882;

' ffy-8 1 EL? U3 f ma; ...VEB .B ,o @q nanfa Awww..-l

N4 PETERS. Photo-Lithgmpher. Washington D. C.

, `UNITED STATES ALPHONSE IEHL, OF MAZAMET, FRANCE.

PATENT OFFICE.

UMBRELLA R PARASOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 257,872, dated May 16, 1882.

Application filed March 2, 1882. (Nomcdel.) `Patented in France August 20,1881, in England December 6, 188i, in Belgium December 23, 1881, and in Austria December 27, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHONSE IEHL, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Mazamet, France, have invented certain Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combinationlock for the runner of an umbrella or parasol, where; by the latter may be locked'fast when the umbrella is closed, and the cover cannot then be distended until the runner is unlocked byone who holds the combination. i

The novel features of the invention will be fully set forth in the claims.

In the drawings which. serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion ofthe umbrella-stick bearing the runner and its lock, and showing the former locked fast. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation, showing the runner unlocked. The remaining figures illustrate the lock. Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections of the lock, the former showingit unlocked and the latter locked. Fig.5 is a vertical section taken on line M N in Fig. 3. Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sections, both taken on line FQ in Fig. 3, the former showing the lock unlocked and the latter showing it locked;

M is the stick of the umbrella, and E is the runner to which the cover-bracess sarehn ged. The runner is provided with a bead or flange,

`t, to rest ou the lock when the umbrella is closed, and two locking-catches, g g, as shown in Fig. 2.

4The lock is constructed as follows: D is a tube, which is secured to the stick by a pin, screw, or rivet, a, or in some other permanent manner. This tube is largevenough for the lower end of the runner to enter it freely. On the upper end of this tube is iixed a ring, B, the outer periphery of which is divided into spaces, in which are impressed or marked distinctive gures, as the numerals 1, 2, 3, &c., as shown in Figs. l and 2. Below, on the tube D, istformed a shoulder, C, above whichscrewu threads are formed on the tube, and on the tube at this point is screwed a collar, F. Between the fixed ring B and the screw-collar F are arranged two rings, A A, which resemble the ring B, and are correspondingly marked with numerals 1, 2, 3, 850. These rings turn freely on the tube D, but may be clamped "against the fixed ring B by screwing the col. lar F up against them.

The rings A A are hollowed or channeled on the inside, so as to give them a U-shaped section,`and the lips or flanges e c bear on` the external surface of the tube D. The tube D has a vertical slot, c, formed in it, which opensout at the top, and from this slot branch short'lateral slots b b, separated by projecting parts d d. llhe slots b are arranged opposite thechannels in the rings A B, and the parts d opposite the flanges e on the rings. These langes c are cut away on the fixed ringB, opposite the slot c in the tube D, and they are cut away at one point (c in Figs. 3 and et) on the rings A, ofthe same width substantially as the said slot c., so that by turning vboth rings A the recesses cl in their langes may be brought to coincide with the said slot c, as` shown in Fig. 6, and thus leave an open way for the passage of the locking catches gg on the ruimer when the latter is drawn down into the lock.

To lock the runner in place it is, then, only necessary to turn one or both of the rings Aa little way around on the tube D, when the catches g will take under the interferin gtlau ges c onthe rings, and the runner cannotbe moved.

To release the runner the recesses c must again be brought to coincide with the slot c. In order to enable the operator to do thisI arrange that certain known figures or numerals on the rings A A and B are brought into line when said recesses coincide with the said slotas, for example, in the present case, like numerals on each and all, as shown in Fig. 2; but any combination may be employed, as will be well understood.

I will now explain the function ot' the lateral slots b. .When the runner is brought down to close the umbrella it is customary to employ a spring to hold it in place. I discard this spring and arrange the lock on the stick in such a manner with respect to the position of the runner that when the latter is drawn down the locking-catches g will not normally enter the slot c, but stand a little to one side-that is to say, toward that side where the slots b are formed. Then, in bringing down the runner, it is only necessary to turn or twist it a little on IOC the stick-which the elasticity ot' the ribs and braces will always permit-until the catches 'g will enter'and pass down the slot c, when the reactionary force exerted by the runner in seeking to resume its normal position will cause the catches to enter the slots b and take under the parts d between said slots. To release the runner and bring the catches back into the slot c, therunner must be again turned slightly on the stick.

Where it is not necessary to employ the lock, or where the owner ofthe umbrella desires to use it, the rings A A may be set as in Figs. 2 and 5', and clamped fast in that position by means of the screw-collar F, as before stated.

One or more rings A A may be employed, more than one movable ring being desirable only in order to increase the complexity ofthe lock and the number ot combinations.

I am aware that combination and permutation locks having lettered and numbered rings are common, and that locks of this character have been fixed on therunners of umbrellas i'or locking them fast when the cover ot' the umbrella is collapsed 5 but myarrangementof the lock fixed to the stick of the umbrellaand its arrangement to serve a double purposethat is to say, to serve as a permutation-lock f'or the runner and as a temporary holdfast for the same, as herein described-has not been known before, so far as I am aware.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the stick of an umbrellaor parasol, of a runner provided with a catch, g, a tube, D, mounted on and fixed to the stick and provided with a fixed ring, B, a vertical slot, c, and a lateral slot, b, and a loose ring, A, mounted to turn on the tube D, and provided with recessed iianges e e, and with characters on its outer periphery arranged to be brought into coincidence with similar characters on the fixed ring B, all arranged substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,with the stick of an umbrella or parasol, of a runner provided with a catch, g, a tube, D, provided with a vertical slot, c, and lateral slot b, and a xed ring, B, and a loose ring, A, mounted to turn on the tube D, and provided with characters onits outer periphery adapted to be brought into coincidence with similar characters on the ring B, the tube D being fixed on the stick with the entrance of the slot c a little to one side of the path of the catch on the runner, whereby it is necessary to twist the runner on the stick in order to cause the catch to enter the slot, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the stick of an umbrella or parasol, ofthe slotted tube D, provided with the fixed ring B ofthe loose ring A, and

the screw-collar F, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALPHONSE IEHL. Witnesses:

GREGORY PHELAN, J. A. MAcKNrGH'r. 

